Leslie Massey
The White Australia policy was a fundamental piece of legislation that effectively stopped all non-European immigration to Australia and contributed to the development of a racially insulated white society. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, also known as the White Australia policy, was one of the first laws passed by the new Australian federal parliament. The Act gave immigration officers the power to make any non-European migrant sit a 50-word dictation test, which was really a way of stopping non-white migrants from entering Australia. The policy lasted until the 1960s and was completely removed by the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The White Australia Game |
| Creator | Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria |
| Year | Registered and copyrighted in 1914, popular throughout the 1920s |
| Objective | "Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In" |
| Price | Sixpence |
| Contents | Dark and light-coloured chips, two extra puzzles |
| Advertisement | "A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People" |
| Significance | Reflects the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy |
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What You'll Learn
- The White Australia Game was registered and copyrighted in 1914
- The game was advertised as A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People
- The objective was to Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In
- The game was created by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria
- The game is a reflection of the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy
The White Australia Game was registered and copyrighted in 1914
The White Australia Policy was a series of acts and ideologies with the common goal of maintaining a homogeneous White population in Australia. This policy was widely accepted by the Australian community and was manifested in various forms of media and popular culture, including theatre productions, songs, pins, badges, soaps, and even a board game. The acceptance and commercialisation of the White Australia ideology contributed to its persistence and impact on Australian society.
The policy was designed to restrict the migration of non-white individuals, particularly Asians and Pacific Islanders, and maintain the racial purity of the White race. This belief in racial superiority was not limited to the political sphere but was also prevalent in the public consciousness. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which was one of the first laws passed by the new Australian federal parliament, formalised the idea of a 'White Australia' as national policy.
The White Australia Game is significant because it provides tangible evidence of the prevailing racist attitudes in early 20th-century Australia. The existence of such a game illustrates how deeply ingrained these discriminatory beliefs were in Australian society. The game also serves as a reminder of a darker chapter in Australia's history, where racial discrimination and exclusion were normalised and even entertained through games.
The White Australia Policy had far-reaching consequences, not only impacting the lives of those seeking migration but also affecting non-white individuals already residing in the country. The policy was gradually dismantled after the Second World War, and it was finally removed from legislation in the 1970s with the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act in 1975. However, the legacy of these discriminatory policies and attitudes continues to be a sensitive topic in Australia's ongoing struggle to reconcile its diverse present with its exclusionary past.
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The game was advertised as A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People
The White Australia Game was a board game created in the early 20th century to reflect and promote racist attitudes prevalent in Australia at the time. The game was registered and copyrighted in 1914 by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria, and was advertised as "A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People". The advertisement and subsequent popularity of the game among Australians reflect the widespread acceptance of racist ideologies in the country during the early 1900s.
The game's objective was to "Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In", reflecting the White Australia Policy that aimed to maintain a homogeneous white population in the country. This policy was driven by beliefs in white superiority and the desire to preserve British customs and cultural dominance. The policy resulted in discriminatory laws and practices that restricted non-white immigration and targeted Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
The game's existence is a stark reminder of the racist attitudes that were pervasive in Australia during the early 20th century. The White Australia Game is one of the few remaining artefacts that explicitly promote racist and discriminatory sentiments. Its presence in the National Archives of Australia collection highlights the importance of acknowledging and understanding this dark chapter in the country's history.
The game's target audience, as suggested by the advertisement, was broad, aiming to appeal to both "new and old" Australian people. This inclusive phrasing indicates that the game was marketed towards a wide range of individuals, regardless of their length of residency in Australia. By targeting a diverse audience, the game's creator likely sought to normalise and reinforce racist ideologies across all segments of Australian society.
The advertisement's use of the phrase "new Australian game" also suggests that the game was presented as a novel and unique addition to the Australian cultural landscape. This positioning may have been a strategic marketing approach to generate interest and curiosity among potential players. Furthermore, the use of the word "Australian" in the advertisement emphasizes the game's connection to national identity and reinforces the sentiment that the game was designed specifically for Australians, both new and old.
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The objective was to Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In
The White Australia Game was a board game created in the early 20th century, with the objective being to "Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In". The game was created by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria, and was granted speedy copyright approval in 1914. It was advertised as "A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People" and sold for sixpence, including two extra puzzles. The game was popular throughout the 1920s, reflecting the racist attitudes of many Australians at the time.
The game was based on the White Australia Policy, which was a series of acts and policies with the goal of maintaining a homogeneous white, British national character in Australia. This policy was in place for seven decades, from 1901 until the 1970s, and was reflected in various aspects of Australian culture, including theatre productions, songs, pins, badges, soaps, and even a brand of sliced pineapple. The White Australia Policy was not just a political but also a cultural phenomenon, widely accepted by the Australian community.
The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 was one of the first laws passed under the White Australia Policy, aiming to restrict immigration to Australia to British people and limit all other migration. This Act included the infamous dictation test, which was notoriously rigged to prevent non-white individuals from entering the country. The test could be administered in any European language, and even if passed in English, individuals could be made to retake it in other languages until they failed. This test was a way of stopping non-white migrants from entering Australia, as it was nearly impossible for them to pass.
The White Australia Game is significant as it provides tangible evidence of the prevailing racist and discriminatory attitudes in Australia during the early 20th century. The game's objective of "getting the coloured men out and the white men in" reflects the desire to maintain ethnic purity and restrict Asians and Pacific Islanders from migrating to Australia. The existence of such a game is a stark reminder of the racist beliefs held by colonial governments, trade unions, and the wider Australian community at the time.
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The game was created by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria
The White Australia Game was created by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria. It was registered and granted speedy copyright approval in 1914. The game included two extra puzzles and was advertised as "A New Australian Game for New and Old Australian People".
The game was played using dark and light-coloured chips, and the goal was to “Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In". This reflected the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy, which aimed to maintain Australia as a country of white people who lived by British customs. The policy made it very difficult for Asians and Pacific Islanders to migrate to Australia, and it was widely popular in the Australian community until the 1970s.
The White Australia Game is a rare artifact from this time period as it is one of the few remaining objects with such overtly racist and discriminatory sentiments. The game represents the racist attitudes held by colonial governments, trade unions, and the wider community that were used to justify the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, the dictation test, and other paraphernalia such as the game itself.
Francis James Shaw, the creator of the game, lived in Coburg, Victoria. Coburg is a suburb of Melbourne, located about 8 kilometres north of the city centre. It is known for its diverse culture and community, which today includes a significant Greek population. It is interesting to note that Shaw created the White Australia Game in a suburb that is now celebrated for its multiculturalism.
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The game is a reflection of the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy
The White Australia Game, created in 1914, reflects the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy. The objective of the game was to "Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In", which was in line with the prevailing racist attitudes of the time. The game was designed by Francis James Shaw from Coburg, Victoria, and was targeted at both children and adults. It featured dark and light-coloured chips, representing the racial groups that players sought to include or exclude from Australia.
The White Australia Policy, which was in force from 1901 to 1978, aimed to maintain Australia's ethnic purity and restrict non-white immigration, specifically targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders. This policy was driven by colonial governments, trade unions, and the wider community, who sought to preserve Australia's British character and prevent labour competition from non-white migrants. The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, also known as the White Australia Policy, was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the newly formed Australian parliament. It gave immigration officers the power to subject non-European migrants to a dictation test in any European language, making it extremely difficult for Asians to pass.
The White Australia Policy was widely popular among Australians and had a significant impact on the country's demographics. By 1947, only 2.7% of the population was born outside Australia, Ireland, or the United Kingdom, and the Asian population had shrunk to around 0.21%. The policy also led to the deportation of thousands of Pacific Islanders, particularly those working as indentured labourers in Queensland.
The game, White Australia, is a stark reminder of the racist attitudes that were prevalent in Australia during the early 20th century. It reflects the discriminatory sentiments that influenced legislation and shaped the country's immigration policies. The game's existence highlights how deeply ingrained these attitudes were in Australian society, influencing not only politics and legislation but also seeping into cultural artefacts and leisure activities.
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Frequently asked questions
The White Australia game was copyrighted in 1914 and was popular throughout the 1920s.
The objective of the game was to "Get the Coloured Men Out and the White Men In", reflecting the racist attitudes of many Australians under the White Australia Policy.
The White Australia Policy was a set of beliefs and laws aimed at maintaining a homogeneous White population in Australia. It was in place for seven decades after 1901 and was gradually dismantled following the Second World War.
